Conscientious objection to abortion

[6] In the Czech Republic since 2011, doctors and medical personnel can choose not to provide abortion care or prescribe any contraceptive (called Výhrada svědomí).

In 2013, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women of the United Nations expressed concern about "the increasing resort to conscientious objection by health professionals in the absence of an adequate regulatory framework.

[16] Section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967 (which does not extend in Northern Ireland, where abortion is prohibited under most circumstances) states: (1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, no person shall be under any duty, whether by contract or by any statutory or other legal requirement, to participate in any treatment authorised by this Act to which he has a conscientious objection: Provided that in any legal proceedings the burden of proof of conscientious objection shall rest on the person claiming to rely on it.

(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section shall affect any duty to participate in treatment which is necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of a pregnant woman.

(3) In any proceedings before a court in Scotland, a statement on oath by any person to the effect that he has a conscientious objection to participating in any treatment authorised by this Act shall be sufficient evidence for the purpose of discharging the burden of proof imposed upon him by subsection (1) of this section.In New Zealand, Conscientious Objection in Abortion is supported by legislation and employment was protected against discrimination, however, in 2020, this protection was partially removed where it causes unreasonable disruption to an employers services.